On a bright Saturday morning, Taiga's apartment suddenly felt livelier than usual. Several movers could be seen walking back and forth, carrying boxes filled with items from a truck parked downstairs. Amid the bustle, Taiga stood at the front door, looking enthusiastic as he occasionally gave instructions to the workers. Today, Hokuto was officially moving into Taiga's apartment. They had decided to live together after being in a relationship for three months.
"Hey, is this all your books? Did you bring a whole library here?" Taiga asked with excitement, his eyes glancing at the three transparent boxes filled with books that now occupied the living room.
Hokuto, standing in the corner of the room a little awkwardly, chuckled quietly while scratching the back of his neck. "Yeah, these are all my book collections. Sorry if it looks like too much. I'll make sure everything is organized."
Taiga just chuckled softly, leaning back on the sofa with his arms crossed over his chest. "Don't worry, I'm just kidding. But if I ever get trapped in a pile of your books one day, make sure you save me, okay, Hokuto?"
Hokuto smiled faintly, slowly feeling more at ease. "Haha, of course. I promise."
Taiga's gaze shifted from Hokuto's face to the scattered boxes around them. He could see that Hokuto still seemed a bit awkward, although it was clear he was trying to adjust to the new place. "Do you want a drink first?" Taiga offered, sitting up straight. "I can make tea, coffee, or maybe some juice? Today must be exhausting for you."
Hokuto shook his head gently. "Thanks, but I think it's better to finish organizing my stuff first. The sooner it's done, the better."
Taiga quickly jumped off the sofa, his face full of enthusiasm. "In that case, let me help!"
Hokuto raised his hand, trying to stop Taiga. "Ah, there's no need, I can do it myself. Besides, these are my things, so—"
"Eh, it's fine, don't be shy," Taiga interrupted casually as he grabbed a small box. "We're not strangers anymore, right? It'll be faster if I help."
Hokuto paused for a moment, unsure of what to say. In the end, he gave in to Taiga's persistence and sighed lightly. "Alright. But be careful, there are some fragile items."
Taiga picked up a box carefully, smiling contentedly. "Aye aye, captain! Don't worry, your things are safe with me."
Watching Taiga cheerfully start moving the boxes to his room, Hokuto couldn't help but smile faintly. Though things felt awkward at first, a warm feeling started spreading in his chest—a sense that maybe everything would be okay after all.
***
Taiga opened the door to the room he had prepared for Hokuto, then stepped inside while carrying the first box of books. "This is your room. It's not too big, but I’m sure it’ll be comfortable enough," he said lightly.
Hokuto followed from behind, his eyes immediately scanning the room. As Taiga had said, the room wasn’t very spacious, but it was cozy enough for him to settle in. The walls were painted a clean white with a touch of gray, giving a simple vibe. The vinyl wood-patterned flooring added warmth to the space. A queen-size bed was placed on one side of the room, accompanied by a small nightstand beside it. A desk sat near a large window that directly opened to the balcony, allowing natural light to flood in during the morning. Next to the desk, a sizable bookshelf stood—perfect for his collection of books. A wardrobe was tucked into the corner, keeping the room feeling open despite the abundance of furniture.
Hokuto stood still for a moment, observing the room with a thoughtful gaze. “This is much better than my old room,” he murmured softly, almost to himself. His previous room, though tidy, often felt cramped and disorganized. He’d never really cared about the arrangement of things, as long as everything looked neat and clean. But here, everything was arranged well.
Taiga turned, smiling in satisfaction. "I’m glad you like it. Now, let’s start unpacking. I’m guessing your books are first, right?"
Hokuto nodded, giving a small smile. "Yeah. I think that’s the most important."
They began working together, unpacking the boxes filled with Hokuto’s books. Taiga helped lift stacks of books closer to the bookshelf, while Hokuto carefully placed them on the shelves one by one. "You really like to read, huh? I didn’t know anyone could have such a collection," Taiga commented with a chuckle, examining a few books with colorful covers.
Hokuto simply smiled faintly. "Maybe it’s too much, huh? But I enjoy reading. These books feel like friends to me."
Taiga glanced at him briefly before smiling softly. "I like the way you think about them."
After finishing with the books, they continued unpacking the rest of the items. Clothes, work supplies, and other personal belongings were placed in their respective spots. Taiga moved quickly, occasionally suggesting more practical ways to organize Hokuto’s things.
"You know, when we work together like this, it feels like it’s going faster," Taiga said while putting clothes into the wardrobe.
Hokuto nodded, arranging a few stationery items on his desk. "Yeah. Thanks for helping me."
Taiga smiled, then leaned against the desk while wiping his forehead. "No problem. Besides, I like organizing spaces."
Hokuto smiled lightly, his gaze moving over the room, which was slowly starting to look tidy. Though there were still some things to arrange, he felt grateful. This room marked a new beginning, and with Taiga by his side, everything seemed easier to handle.
Once all the items had been moved and organized, Hokuto finally sat down on the edge of his bed, letting out a long sigh. It had been a tiring day, but there was a sense of satisfaction seeing the room starting to feel like home. Taiga stood at the doorframe, watching him with a concerned expression.
"Hokuto, you look tired. You should rest. Don’t push yourself too hard," Taiga said, his tone full of care.
"I'm fine," Hokuto replied softly, though his exhaustion was clearly visible.
"Yeah, 'fine.' Says the guy who just moved a whole library." Taiga replied firmly. "Listen, it’s better if you take a short nap. I’ll order some food so we don’t have to cook. You can eat later when you wake up."
Hokuto glanced at Taiga for a moment, hesitating to argue. But in the end, he nodded gently. "Alright. I’ll rest for a bit."
Taiga smiled in satisfaction, then left the room, allowing Hokuto to lie down on the neatly arranged bed.
***
Hokuto woke up when the sun had started to set, soft orange light filtering through the large window in his room. He looked around, feeling refreshed after a long nap. As soon as he stepped out of his room, the aroma of food greeted him.
"Ah, finally awake," Taiga greeted from the dining table with a wide smile. On the table were several food boxes, still warm. "Let’s have dinner. I ordered my favorite food, so you have to try it."
They sat across from each other, eating quietly. Hokuto felt a little awkward, but Taiga’s warmth slowly made him feel more at ease.
"How was your sleep? Feeling better?" Taiga asked between bites.
"Yeah, much better. Thank you for making me rest," Hokuto replied.
"Don’t mention it. Now, just focus on eating. I don’t want you getting sick."
After dinner and cleaning up, they moved to the living room. Taiga collapsed onto the sofa, while Hokuto sat more formally at the other end. "Let’s chat for a bit. I’m curious, Hokuto, what’s your favorite hobby besides reading?" Taiga started the conversation.
Hokuto thought for a moment before answering. "Cooking. I like trying new recipes when I have time."
"Wow, that’s impressive! I’ll have to try your cooking sometime. As for me... I love painting, singing, playing guitar—oh, and I’m also into anime," Taiga said enthusiastically.
Their conversation flowed easily, talking about books, music, and favorite foods. After a while, Taiga got up and went to his room, returning with two sheets of paper and a pen.
"Alright, write down what you want to do together, and your own little rules. Like... don’t bring too many friends over," Taiga said with a mischievous smile.
Hokuto took the paper, a little confused but eventually starting to write. After they finished, they exchanged papers. *see their agreement here*
"Hmm... so you want a movie channel on the TV? That’s a good idea," Taiga commented with a chuckle.
Hokuto read through Taiga’s list and stopped at one point. "Drying your hair? Is that really necessary?"
"Of course! It’s not a problem to spoil me once in a while, right?" Taiga replied with a laugh. "I like it when you do that."
Hokuto read on, his eyes stopping at another point that made him raise an eyebrow. "Taking a bath together? Is that serious?"
Taiga grinned mischievously. "Why? Are you uncomfortable? Isn’t it more water-efficient if we bathe together?"
Hokuto turned his face away, hiding the red hue creeping up his cheeks. "I just... I’m not used to it."
"What's this?" Taiga pointed at one of Hokuto's points. "Sleeping together sometimes? I didn’t know you were this romantic."
"It... it was just an idea," Hokuto muttered softly, trying to avoid Taiga’s gaze.
Taiga chuckled and patted Hokuto’s shoulder. "Relax, I don’t mind."
They continued reading each other’s lists and joking about their little agreements, teasing each other now and then. Despite the lingering awkwardness, the moment felt light and warm, making them forget the usual tension.
Then, Hokuto read further through Taiga’s list and stopped at one point that made him laugh. "Wait, this one’s hilarious... 'Don’t eat my dessert without permission?'"
Taiga pretended to pout, but it was clear he couldn’t hide his smile. "That’s for your safety, so you don’t eat more than me!"
"So if I just eat a little, you’ll get mad?" Hokuto teased, laughing as if questioning how serious Taiga was.
Taiga looked at Hokuto with a flat expression, though his smile still appeared. "I won’t get mad, but you need to know your place," he said, laughing.
They both laughed together, enjoying the warmth of the moment before the awkwardness crept back. After a while, Taiga sighed lightly and leaned back in his chair. "Alright, I think I’ll head to bed now. It's been quite a day, hasn’t it?"
Hokuto nodded, smiling faintly. "Yeah, you should rest too. Let’s continue our chat tomorrow."
Taiga stood and extended his hand. "Let’s go back to our rooms. If we miss each other, we can just visit one another."
Hokuto hesitated for a moment, then nodded, offering a small smile. "Yeah, see you tomorrow, Taiga."
With slow steps, they headed to their rooms, the warmth of their conversation still lingering between them. As the doors to their rooms closed, the atmosphere grew quiet, but their feelings for each other felt closer than before.
***
In their respective rooms, both began preparing for sleep. Taiga sat on his bed, gazing at the ceiling, a small smile tugging at his lips. He couldn’t help but chuckle softly as he recalled how awkward Hokuto had been earlier—the way Hokuto tried to resist his help but eventually gave in, or the serious expression Hokuto had when discussing their little agreements. Taiga sighed lightly, feeling relieved and happy to be sharing a living space with someone so different, yet so interesting in his eyes.
Meanwhile, Hokuto sat on his bed, looking around the room that now truly felt like his. He observed his books neatly arranged on the shelf, the clean desk, and the warm glow of the bedside lamp. Everything was organized in a way he had never imagined. His thoughts drifted to Taiga—the way he smiled, how enthusiastic he was in conversation, and how friendly and cheerful he had been all day. Hokuto felt awkward, but he knew that Taiga’s presence in his life brought a pleasant change.
A few minutes later, their rooms were bathed in silence. In Taiga’s room, he hugged his pillow as he thought. "Hokuto is really unique," he murmured softly, before his eyes slowly closed. He imagined how the days ahead would be filled with little surprises with Hokuto.
On the other side, Hokuto lay in his bed, staring at the ceiling with thoughts slowly flowing. He wondered how he, being so quiet, would adapt to Taiga’s warmth. But in the stillness, a faint smile appeared on his face. "Taiga is... interesting," he whispered softly.
The night’s atmosphere felt peaceful, with only the soft sound of the wind from outside accompanying them. Each of them carried small hopes in their hearts, imagining better days ahead. Slowly, they both drifted into sleep, their thoughts of each other entering their dreams.